Honesty Agenda part 6: Something Good

November 15, 2010

Hopefully, it won’t come to that.

I deeply hope that those in control of the legislative process will really look at these basic reforms, give them a fair hearing, and endorse them as necessary changes that will lead Texas to stable, secure footing for years and even generations.

All of us elected to serve can, and probably do, believe in the basic tenets of this reform package.  They’re straightforward. They’re not partisan. And in a sane world, they wouldn’t be controversial at all. Indeed, they’re the sorts of things that should already be in place.

So this is an opportunity, regardless of other differences we may have about politics and specific policies, to work with each other and with everyone who believes in truly honest and accountable government.
 
This is our shared chance to prove not only that we can spend the people’s money wisely, but that we want to and will responsibly work to do so.

This is our moment to assure that we can meet the needs of today’s Texans, and that we will live up to our legacy of helping tomorrow’s Texans prosper in this growing state and economically competitive world.
 
This is where we can prove, where we must prove, that we can do better with our most moral document, and put out this fire that’s been allowed to burn for far too long.

I’m looking forward to working in that manner.  

Because good things can happen in the next seven months. We simply have to be honest – and accountable – about our troubles and the cause of them.

We have to take responsibility for confronting our challenges and stop kicking them down the road to future generations of Texans.

And we have to be thoughtful, careful, creative and fearless in finding ways to balance today’s budgets while building tomorrow’s Texas.

This is our time – right now, even in the midst of this terrible crisis – to reject the failed policies that are endangering our economy and our future.

Now is our chance – perhaps not our best chance, but quite possibly our last – to demand the discipline, honesty, responsibility and accountability that have been missing from the legislative process for too long.

We simply have to commit to it, and get our leaders to do the same.

Yes,  we’ll have to work hard – really, really hard – to make sure they do.  But while good things – even great things – are never easy, they’re always – always – within a Texan’s grasp.

Thank you.  God bless you.  And God bless our great state.

 

Click here to read the complete speech.